Improvement in ditching-machines



' 2 Sheets--SheefLA G. W. N EVILL.

Improvement in Dtchng Machines. No. 123,286, Patentedlamsonsz,

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- @Hummm 2 Sheets--Sheet G. w. NEVILL. y

Improvement in Ditchng Machines. l

No. v123,286. Patentedsamsmwm.

GEORGE W. NEVILL, 0F RICHMOND, VIRGINIA.

IMPROVEMENT IN DITCHINGMACHINES.

Specification forming part of Letters Patent No. 123,236, dated January 30, 1879..

Specification describing a new and Improved Ditchin'-Machine, invent-ed by GEORGE IV. NEVILL, ot' Richmond, in the county of Henrico and State of Virginia..

The invention will be iirst fully described and then clearly pointed out in the claim.

Figure l is a central longitudinal section ot" the machine. Fig. 2 is an elevation oi the right side of wheel and discharge-spout. Fig. 3 is a longitudinal section of one ot' the friction-rolls ot' endless carrier. Fig. 4 is a det-ail view ot' side cutters. Fig. 5 is a section of carrier-wheel, showing the divergence oi'iianges. Fig. 6 is a det-ail view of spout. Fig. 7 is a plan view ot' stock for side-cutters and guide.

A1 is a frame, and A2 a bar diverging rea1= wardly to press the dirt from the ditch after it falls from the spout. A is a cast-iron wheel provided with slightly-Haring vertical tlanges a a.. a a are straps, in which the wheel has its bearings, and which are pendent from a frame, B. This frame B is itself pendent from across-bar, I), which r 3sts upon uprights b1 b] by means of hook and eye b2 b3, when the ditcheris not at work, and is attached thereto by means ot'windlass b4 and rope b5 when in full operation. In the rear of frame B is located the broad endless carrier C, which works upon pulleys c c pivoted at the ends ot' asmall frame whose sides c1 form lateral guides to the dirt. These are formed ot" a shaft provided with three dis is, c2, so that when the dirt presses upon the belt the end disks will allow a longitudinal cavity to receive it, while the middle one will prevent the belt from being drawn in too much at the center of the pulley. D is a stationary scraper-spout, having' one end, d, to act as the scraper, and theI other, d2, to serve as the discharge-spout. From the part d to the middle of curve d1 there is an upward incline, and from that point to the end oi'spout a gradual decline. This acts upon the dirt somewhat in the samemannerastheinoldboard of a plow. E E are knives to loosen the sides of the packed dirt j ust previ ous to its delivery upon the scraper d. These knives are placed at top of wheel, on opposite sides, and one in advance ot' the other. The object ot' placing' them one before the other is that they may not press the dirt at opposite points and pack it too much7 as well as cause unnecessary friction. E E are Scrapers to act upon the side of wheel. F is the cutter, corresponding in width with the distance between ianges a a, and having two cutting-edges, f j', which t'orin the sides ot' an isosceles triangle. This gives a shearing cuton each side ofthe vertex i ters diverge slightly but gradually upward.`

They are set on each side of the machine, and one in advance ot' the other. The purpose of this construction is to afford lateral play; to the wheel in its subsequenttravel when it successively deepens the ditch. The lower part of these knives cut a portion oi' earth equal to depthr of the wheel-tlanges, while the Aupper part pares oli' the previous cut a little more to allow the wheel and its frame to be let down easily and without sticking between the sides ofthe ditch. These cutters are set one in front of the other, so as not to compress the furrowslice between them and to avoid friction. H is a rictioi1-roll, which rests upon the top of the furrow-slice which is about to be removed. H is a cast frame, which is constructed to act as a holder for the lateral cutters and regulating-roller, and also as a guide. This 'ranie is biturcated in front for the purpose ot' receiving wheel- Il, is of about the same width as distance between ianges of wheel A, and is attached to the lower front end of pendent sliding-trame B. The sides ot' this frame are bulged out so as to be a distance transversely across equal with that of the wheel. This serves as a guide to keep the wheel directly in line ot'cut after the iirst slice. is taken out. I is the upper tongue, pi voted to the lov. er, while the latter is pivoted between hounds K K. This allows the tongue which carries the guide L and guide-wheel to gradually sink lower and lower in the ditch until the work is completed. L is a guide, which does not touch the furrowslice at any time, but aii'terthe lirst cut is made moves between the concavity formed, and serves to keep the horses in proper line oli each side ofthe excavation. M is a lever and N a cord attached to the lower tongue to enable them to be elevated, if desired.

The machine being tra-nsl'iorted to the intended scene of operation, the wheel A is dropped and allowed to rest with its Weight upon the ground. The horses being started, the lateral cutters G G cut vertically into the ground. The angular horizontal steel-plate F cuts out the bottom and raises the loosened slice. This is pressed backward by its own mass in front until it reaches the endless carrier. This carrier, being made taut by friction, revolves upon its rolls and sustains the weight of the moving mass nearly without friction, because it moves With said mass. The soil, after reaching nearly to a horizontal position on the top ot' wheel, is carried forward, looscned, and unpacked on the sides by knives E E. It is then discharged on the scraper d, up the mold-board incline d1, whence it is discharged from the spout d2. After one furrowslice is cut the operation is successively repeated until the requisite depth is obtained. Aft-er the tirst cut the guide L subserves the very importantnse of helping to maintain all parts of the machine in their true relation to the line of travel. This guide is rigidly attached to tongue, and gradually increasing in Width from front to rear.

I am aware th at friction-rolls have been used for this purpose, but as they act by rolling friction the dirt gathers and becomes packed on their peripheries. Hence, in order to enable them to work advantageously they require cleaner attachments, which are in the Way.

Allaving thus described all that is necessary to a full understanding of my invention, Wha-t I esteem to be new, and desire to protect by Letters Patent, is-

1. The combination, in a ditching-machine, ot' a tlanged revolving carrier-Wheel, A, with the two lateral cutters Gr G set upon opposite sides, one in advance ot' the other, and both constructed as and for the purpose described.

2. The separating-knives E arranged on opposite sides and near the top ot' anged Wheel A, one in front of the other, and both in rear of scraper d, as and for the purpose described.

3. The scraper-spoutD havingbottom scraper d, upward inclinedl, and spout d2, constructed and applied as and for the purpose set forth.

4. The cast frame H', when constructed as described, so as to adapt it to serve as cutterstock, regulatin g wheel-stock, and Wheel-frame guide, as set forth.

5. The upper and lower tongue combined, as described, With hounds, so as to allow the lower tongue, which carries the furrow-wheel and guide L, to gradually go lower as the ditch becomes deeper.

The above specification of my invention signed by me this 23d day ot' November, A. D. 187].

Gr. W. NEVILL.

Witnesses:

SoLoN C. KEMON, THos. D. D. OURAND. 

